15 Best Rums for $40 and Under

Made from sugar cane molasses or sugar cane juice, rum has remained a popular option for those who enjoy a more refined flavor profile. But it can be expensive.

Fortunately, there are some exceptional products that also let you keep more cash in your wallet. Check out the best rums you can buy for under $40.

Average price: $29

A premium sipping rum, Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva is a Venezuelan dark gold rum. The molasses makes for a strong profile that’s fruity and deeply rich.

One of the factors that makes this rum unique is that it’s aged for 12 years after being distilled in a copper pot still. This method creates a unique taste profile.

Average price: $40

An exceptional option for those who enjoy a more clean, natural option for rum, Copalli Barrel Rested Rum is a solid choice right at about $40.

One of the key differences in this rum is that it doesn’t contain any additives — no colors, flavors, or chemicals. Instead, it contains organic sugar cane, yeast, and rainwater.

The flavor profile is rich and sweet, like any classic rum. Serve it in a cocktail or on the rocks for a simple, on-target drink.

Average price: $35

Don Papa Small Batch Rum has an interesting flavor profile and is aged in American oak barrels for seven years. The rum has an intense scent of vanilla, and you will also detect notes of caramel.

The sugar cane is also special in this blend, coming from Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines.

Average price: $40

Made at the first distillery in Frederick, Maryland — Dragon Distillery — Dumas Rum is molasses-based and spends 14 years in American oak casks before being ready for consumption.

This is a newer product based on Caribbean traditions and attention to craftsmanship. It has a bit of a spice, a toasted oak flavor, and just a hint of vanilla.

Average price: $35

Smith & Cross is one of the oldest English spirits producers, dating back to the late 1700s.

The Traditional Jamaica Rum from the producer is noted for its exotic fruit and spice profile, which the organization says comes from the Wedderburn and Plummer pot still distillates used in these products.

Average price: $32

Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Gold Rum, produced at the Worthy Park Distillery in Jamaica, has a bold flavor profile and may not be the smooth rum most are used to enjoying.

The only thing added to this rum after distilling is a small amount of caramel from Sethness and water, making it a pungent, funky choice.

Average price: $40

For a full-bodied rum with a beautiful reddish amber color, explore the Flor de Caña Centenario 12 flavor.

Smell the honey and toasted nuts of this 12-year-old rum, with a bit of red fruits. You’ll taste a bit of vanilla and a smooth sweetness that’s hard to beat.

Perfect for the drink known as an “old fashioned,” this is a rum with a well-balanced finish.

Average price: $33

Havana Club Anejo Clasico has been a double-aged rum since 1934 and features a recipe started by the Arechabala family.

It’s aged up to three years, with at least the last three months of that period under the Caribbean sun. That creates a velvety finish and rich flavor.

This rum has a fruity blend to it. You can taste the oak and vanilla flavors from the casks and a bit of apricot and pineapple in the background. It’s smooth and goes down easily.

Average price: $26

For a less prominent brand with a bit of a modern feel to it, consider Sugarlands Mark and Digger’s Hazelnut Rum Legends Series. It’s an 80-proof rum that’s sure to give you a kick.

This rum has a brown sugar and toasted hazelnut flavor profile, with a bit of a cinnamon bite. Produced in the Sugarlands of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, this is a strong and tart rum like no other.

Average price: $35

An authentic dark rum, Ten To One Dark Rum is a blend of Barbados and Dominican column still rums. It’s aged for eight years in American white oak ex-bourbon casks that impart their background flavor to this drink.

This dark rum has a smooth but tart flavor profile, with a bit of tobacco and leather as tasting notes. Enjoy it over the rocks or in a craft cocktail when you want a bit of spice in the background.

Average price: $25

Breckenridge Spiced Rum is the perfect option for those who want a sweet, root-like, and spice-filled rum. It’s a Colorado rum made by using dark molasses and turbinado sugar.

As for tasting, expect an initial dark chocolate taste that produces lingering vanilla and sweet molasses. But at 90 proof, it has a strong bite to it as well.

Average price: $29

Yes, it’s non-alcoholic, but Lyre’s White Cane Non-Alcoholic White Rum is boldly rum-like and ideal for those who want the flavor and tartness without the alcohol.

It’s made to resemble a gently aged white rum, and a premium version at that.

Expect it to have notes of orange and coconut with a light, peppery finish. There’s also a bit of marzipan in there, too.

Average price: $40

White rum has its place in any liquor cabinet, and Wiggly Bridge White Rum is an excellent choice overall. This small, craft-batch distilled rum is made in York, Maine.

As for its flavor profile, there’s a bit of butterscotch and leather in the backdrop with a cinnamon, raisin, and tropical fruit finish. It’s interesting and straightforward.

Average price: $40

Brugal 1888 Ron Gran Reserva Familiar Rum has a tradition that’s been followed for more than a century.

This rum ages in horizontally resting casks that provide the best contact with the wood itself. The dark amber color leads to a full-bodied flavor profile with hints of toffee caramel, licorice, chocolate, and roasted coffee beans.

Average price: $34

Bumbu Original Rum is an authentic Caribbean rum that has hand-selected spices added to it to create a depth of flavor. It’s produced in Barbados and made in only small batches, using a yeast strain that dates to 1840.

The flavor has a subtle oak, vanilla, and caramel profile, with a bit of chocolate, banana, and cinnamon coming through.

Great rum is available from companies using traditions that date back a century. Yet, don’t overlook the new distilleries popping up throughout the world.

If you want to save money shopping for your favorite spirit, try one of these versions under $40 that will still give you the smooth taste you’ve been craving.